September 5th – October 3rd, 2014

For its 2014 Summer Exhibition Series, The Power Station presents Ruth Pinnell: Bridging the Gap, a retrospective spanning over three decades of the artist’s career. This first time showing of Pinnell’s work in Texas includes an expansive overview of her diverse exploration of mediums, from serial photography to drawing, painting and print.

Pinnell has exhibited nationally and internationally, including the Corcoran Gallery in Washington DC, Fredrich Grohmann in Munich, The Upper Street Gallery in London, University of London and a traveling exhibition orchestrated by the Smithsonian. During the 1980s she served as Curator of the Green Hill Center in Greensboro North Carolina, and as Director of the North Carolina Center for Creative Photography. She now offers part-time assistance in the curatorial department at the Nasher Museum at Duke University and is represented by Lee Hansley Gallery in Raleigh, North Carolina.

As an important extension of her artistic practice, she sought to stimulate the artistic curiosity of generations of North Carolinians. Over a period of twenty-five years, Pinnell taught Fine Art Photography to more than a thousand Duke University and University of North Carolina students. She also instructed an equal number of community students at the Art Center in Carrboro, and at Durham Arts Council. Photographers came from many areas of North Carolina and Virginia for her advanced courses in The Zone System, and The Fine Print. Artists, collectors, curators and patrons of the arts, including her son Alden Pinnell, credit her with being the catalyst for their interest in the arts.

Reception: September 6, 2014

September 6 – November 15, 2014

This fall, PDNB Gallery will kick off the season with a solo show for the highly recognized fashion and advertising photographer, Geof Kern, (b. 1950, Brooklyn, NY).  Kern is a Dallas treasure, well known in fashion circles, particularly the Neiman Marcus set. This exhibition strongly illustrates the influence of high art on the world of advertising.
 
In the history of photography, museums and art collectors from all over the world have acknowledged the importance of photographers that specialize in the world of fashion and advertising, such as Man Ray, Horst, Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Annie Leibovitz, Herb Ritts, Bruce Weber and David LaChapelle They have all been trailblazers, bridging the two worlds seamlessly.
 
This exhibition will include his most memorable photographs from fashion projects for Matsuda Tokyo and Neiman Marcus.  In the 1990’s, Kern was invited to create an artist book for the eminent fashion designer, Yukio Kobayashi, of Matsuda Tokyo. Kern’s surrealist influenced photography was included among a most respected list of artists on this book series, including Bruce Weber, Juergen Teller, Nan Goldin and performance artist Laurie Anderson.
 
In 1996, Kern created the cover for the groundbreaking first issue of, THE BOOK, the popular Neiman Marcus publication. His memorable photograph of the butterfly chair inspired the iconic butterfly motif of Neiman Marcus.
 
Soon after, Neiman Marcus called upon several leaders of the fashion photography world to create a hefty, 30  – 40 page advertising insert for Harper’s Bazaar named, The Art of Fashion. Geof Kern, Helmut Newton, Richard Avedon and Annie Leibovitz each created a separate issue.
 
In 2007, Kern conceived, designed and photographed the innovative 100-year anniversary, limited edition, Neiman Marcus Pop Up book, which has become a collectible.
 
Geof Kern has been very successful throughout his career. He has been honored with many awards, including the  Infinity Award in Applied Photography from the International Center of Photography in New York City. This is a highly recognized award in the art world.
 
A catalog will accompany the exhibition, with forward by D.J. Stout, former Texas Monthly photo editor and current design consultant for Pentagram. Geof Kern will be signing copies during the opening reception.